Conveyor system

ABSTRACT

A conveyor system adapted for use at drive-in windows and the like which incorporates a flat container having a folding lid which can be opened from either end and adapted to receive therein bank deposits and the like, a carrier system extending between two designated points, an endless loop which moves the flat container, and a pair of rails utilizing tubular stock with centering rollers engaging each of the rails. An alternative embodiment is disclosed which includes an upstanding container which can be opened from either side. An alternative roller arrangement is also disclosed including rollers carried on shafts which are free to move along the shafts and further including one roller below the rail and two above the rail.

United States Patent 1 Martin, Jr.

[ 1 CONVEYOR SYSTEM [76] Inventor: Dan 0. Martin, Jr.. 16235 Waverly Rd.Houston, Tex. 77060 221 Filed: Mar. 22. 1973 1211 Appl. No.: 343,927

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.226.094, Feb. 14,

1972. abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl 104/244; 104/173 [51] Int. Cl B6" 9/00 158] Field of Search104/244. 245. 246. 118,

104/119. 172 R. 172 B, 172 c.1712 S. 173, l04/242,243,247; 198/137,181,182,218; 186/1 C; 187/10, 12

Broggic et a1 198/181 X 1 1 Apr. 8, 1975 3.517.775 6/1970 Meyer 187/12FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1.194.764 6/1965 Germany 198/181 PrimaryExaminer-Lloyd L. King Ass-ism"! Examiner-Randolph A. Reese Atmrney.Agent. or FirmDona1d Gunn [57] ABSTRACT A conveyor system adapted foruse at drive-in windows and the like which incorporates a flat containerhaving a folding lid which can be opened from either end and adapted toreceive therein bank deposits and the like. a carrier system extendingbetween two designated points. an endless loop which moves the flatcontainer. and a pair of rails utilizing tubular stock with centeringrollers engaging each of the rails. An alternative embodiment isdisclosed which includes an upstanding container which can be openedfrom either side. An alternative roller arrangement is also disclosedincluding rollers carried on shafts which are free to move along theshafts and further including one roller below the rail and two above therail.

11 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures CONVEYOR SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATIONS Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 226,094.filed Feb. I4. I972, entitled Conveyor System. now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In drive-in windows for banks, savings andloan offices, insurance companies and other facilities, wheretransactions are conducted from a customers car, personal attendance issometimes less than desirable. Re motely attended paying and receivingsystems normally reduce payroll costs. This is particularly true atfinancial institutions. Also. the exposure of the personal attendant andthe cash kept by that attendant to armed robbery is reduced. Crimes aremeasurably reduced through the use of a pneumatic depository system. Thecustomer transacts all business with a teller located at a remotelocation through the use ofa pneumatic tube, making contact by line orsight or by closed circuit tele vision. Pneumatic tubes constitute theprincipal competitive equipment with the present invention. Pneumatictubes have a long history, including their use in large departmentstores over the past many years. Nevertheless. they are subject toseveral limitations, such as a limitation in the width of the paperworkthat can be handled. For instance. many legal papers, invoices and thelike are approximately the size of a business envelope typically in therange of about 4 inches by 9 inches. Pneumatic tubes are not normallythis large. The actual carrier may have an inside diameter suitable forreceiving a document of width not exceeding perhaps 2V2 or 3 inches.Larger documents must be curled or folded to be placed in the tubularcarrier. Even larger documents are simply crammed into the tubularcarrier, which is undesirable from many points of view. However.difficulties are encountered on increasing the width or diameter of acylindrical pneumatic system. Suppose by way of discussion, that theinterior of the tubular carrier is increased to accommodate a documentof four inches in width in contrast with a document of 3 inches inwidth. This increases the cross sectional area of the tube in accordancewith the square of the diameter. Thus, this increase of 33 percent inwidth actually results in an increase in cross sectional area ofapproximately 77 percent. This requires a commensurate increase in airflow to obtain the same velocity of the capsule.

Tubular pneumatic systems are dominant over rectangular pneumaticsystems. Rectangular pneumatic systems generally are not desirablebecause of the difficulty in handling bends or corners. They tend todevelop leakage past the rectangular carrier, and because of this andmany other reasons, they have generally found to be wanting. Rectangularsystems are also very expensive.

As the diameter is increased to accommodate bills, bank deposits.purchase orders. invoices and other typical documents rountinely handledby a conveyor system, the bulk resulting from the increase becomes aproblem. Thus, a four inch conveyor system requires a larger tubularmember. It becomes more difficult to hide in the walls of a building orto extend across the drive-way aprons or parking lot at drive-infacilities. As a consequence. the slight increase in diameter creates avery substantial problem at installation of the equipment. For instance,on a parking lot apron, the trenches must be dug substantially deeper tobury the tubes. This is particularly wasteful in view of the fact thatthe full diameter is not required to handle the typical flat documentwhich. while it may be 4 inches in width. would typically be less than/2 inch in thickness. Additionally, the bends in a conveyor sweep toowidely, increasing bulk at a radius.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is described andsummarized as providing a conveyor system which is competitive with thepneumatic system described above and which meets many of the objectionsthereof. The present invention provides a conveyor system for a flatcontainer which is transferred by an endless loop between a pair ofrails. The container can be any width to accommodate larger sizeddocuments while the height of the system can be reduced to a totalheight of perhaps 2 or 2% inches. Of course the dimensions can beincreased. The system is further summarized as including a pair of smalltubular rails with the container traveling on a pair of guides whichengage the rails and fix the container in the system. The container lidopens from either end.

An alternative embodiment is disclosed wherein the container is a flatupright rectangular structure having a side opening slide door. Analternative mounting on the rail system is incorporated wherein rollersare supported on shafts which extend above and below the rails. Therollers are preferably arranged offset from one another to accommodatevariations in spacing of the rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a prospective view of theconveyor system of the present invention installed in a typical drive-inwindow, omitting the housing or cover which might surround the system;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1 showingone end of the conveyor system;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1illustrating details of construction of the track;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of the travelling container positionedbetween the rails which guide it;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4illustrating the rollers which support the container with respect to theguide rails;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6 6 of FIG. 4illustrating the lid mechanism which opens from both ends of thecontainer;

FIG. 7 is a plan view ofan alternative embodiment of the presentinvention supported between a pair of rails; FIG. 8 is a side view ofthe apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line 9 9 of FIG. 8 showing detailsof the arrangement of the rollers with respect to the rails;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged partial view of the rollers and rail; and,

FIG. I1 is a side view of the rollers and mounting shafts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is first directed toFIG. 1 of the drawings where the numeral 10 identifies the conveyorsystem of the present invention. The conveyor system incorporates atrack generally indicated at 12 and a movable container 14 carried onthe track. The container 14 travels from one end indicated by thenumeral 16 to the other end 18 of the system. It will be appreciatedthat the ends 16 and I8 are spaced any distance apart desired to permitthe container 14 to travel between them at rapid speed. Accordingly, thetrack 12 is of indefinite length. perhaps quite short or much longer. Itcan be as short as 20 or 30 feet and then stretch out several hundredfeet, depending on the circumstances of installation. For anunderstanding of the apparatus, attention is directed to FIG. 4 wherethe track 12 and the container 14 will be described in detail.

In FIG. 4 the numeral 22 identifies identical parallel tubular rails.The rails 22 are preferably hollow tubular members of a moderate andnominal size such as perhaps k to l inch in diameter. This size isparticularly adapted for use in financial institutions, although thescale of the apparatus can be increased. The rails 22 are preferablyspaced from one another a fixed distance along the length of theapparatus. In the preferred embodiment, the space between the rails isfixed along the full length of the apparatus at approximately 6 to 12inches. Again, these dimensions are relative and are particularlyadapted for use in a financial institution where the item beingtransferred in the container might be deposit slips, checks or otherdocuments which are placed flat in the container.

As shown in FIGS of the drawings, the rail 22 is held above a bottomplate 24 which supports spaced upstanding support brackets 26. Thebrackets 26 are located along the length at suitable distances. Theupstanding brackets 26 each have a hole for receiving a threaded shaft28. The shaft 28 is locked by means of suitable nuts 30. The shaft 28connects to the tubular member 22, which is better shown in FIG. 5.Since the guide 22 is supported at spaced locations along this length.it is held a suitable distance from the bottom plate 24. As will beobserved in viewing FIG. 5, a generally U-shaped housing can be placedin an inverted position over the full length of the track 12 to enableit to be buried. to extend through a wall or other structures and togenerally provide protection for the container which will be described.Such a housing has been omitted for sake of clarity of the drawings, butcan be readily incorporated. It is preferably joined to the up standingsupport brackets 26 along the length of the track.

Returning again to FIG. of the drawings, the numeral 32 identifies ashaft extending from the container which supports a pair of centeringrollers 34. The shaft 32 supports four rollers which extend at angleswith respect to one another. The rollers are angled at approximately 90.They encompass the outer surface of the tubular guide 22. It will benoted from observing FIG. 5 that the rollers, arranged on both sides ofthe container l4. capture the container so that it cannot move to theleft or right. Vertical movement is likewise prevented. As shown in FIG.5 the shaft 32 is surrounded by a spring 36 which is compressed andtends to urge the shaft 32 outwardly. The shaft 32 extends through aconnective plate 38 which is carried on the side of the container 14.The connective plate 38 is better shown in FIG. 4. It is a U-shapedplate which stands off from the side of the container 14. The spacebetween the plate 38 and the container receives one end of the shaft 32.The shaft 32 is preferably fixed to the plate 38 by means of a cotterpin 40 which extends through the end of the shaft. The shaft is free toslide through the opening in the plate 38. The shaft however is forcedoutwardly by spring action to force the rollers 34 against the tubularguide 22. The lateral forces constrain the container 14 to the spacebetween the rails with the rollers 34 always bearing against the tubularguides 22. It will be observed that this arrangement tolerates smallvariations in spacing between the tubular guides 22. Thus, the devicedoes not require precision installation. Small variations in thedistance between centers can readily be accommodated. Each shaft carriestwo sets of rollers. This arrangement lends stability to the rollers toaccommodate small variations in alignment, tolerance, and angularmovement.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container 14 is a generally rectangular boxhaving end walls 42 and 44. It has side walls 46 and 48 which cooperateto form a rectangle. It incorporates a bottom plate 50 shown in FIG. 5and a movable top 52.

Attention is momentarily directed to FIG. 6 which illustrates the top ingreater detail. It is desirable that the container 14 be opened fromeither end. The interior of the box supports a pair of upstandingidentical mounting brackets 56. The brackets 56 are located on each sideof the container. The brackets support mov able levers 58 which extendapproximately the full length of the container 14. The levers 58 arethen connected to the lid 52 at a pivot point 60. This thus permits thelid 52 to open from either end. If opened from one end, the pivot at 60pivots the connected end of the lid. If opened from the opposite end,the pivot motion occurs at the bracket 56. Thus, the lid can be openedfrom either end.

Returning again to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a hand hold 64 is formed ateach end of the lid 52. It is preferably a lengthy raised lip stamped inthe lid.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 5 of the drawings. In FIG. 5 of thedrawings, the bottom plate 24 extends beneath the container 14 as willbe observed. Rollers 68 are spaced at various locations along the lengthof the bottom plate 24. The rollers support a flexible cable which isassociated with the drive mechanism for the container as will bedescribed. Additionally, the bottom of the container 14 is shown havinga downwardly projecting lug 70 which is adapted to be connected to theflexible member. This ties the container 14 to a thin cable whichextends the length of the conveyor system 12. For a description of this,attention is referred again.

to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings. In FIG. 1 of the drawings, the container 14traverses the length of the conveyor system 12 on a small cable 72. Thecable 72 is preferably in the form of an endless loop. A motor 74connected to a suitable gear box as needed (not shown) engages the cable72 and drives it in the desired direction. Preferably, the motor 74 isreversable. In any case, the cable 72 is driven by some suitable powersource.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cable 72 emerges from below where it ispreferably driven by the power source and turns along the length of theconveyor system. The numeral 76 indicates a first roller and the numeral78 identifies a second roller. The two rollers are preferably paralleland are supported just above the floor 24 of the conveyor system. FIG. 2illustrates a relatively flat portion of the conveyor system which canbe located at one end of the system where access can be obtained. It

might be located in the tellers cage ofa financial institution. A flatportion is preferably provided where the container 14 is received on theflat portion and is opened to permit the transfer of documents from orto the container 14. The level space terminates at an additional roller80. It will be observed that a relatively short guide post 82 separatesthe two portions of the cable 72. Thereafter, the cable extends alongthe sloping portions of the conveyor system, one side passing over anadditional roller 84 and the other side passing under the roller. Thecontainer 14 is preferably connected to that portion of the cablepassing over the roller 84. The cable which is returning to the powersource but which still comprises ofa portion of the endless loop isreturned preferably under the rollers at this juncture. Attention isnext directed to FIG. 1 of the drawings where the numeral 86 identifiesa roller at a corner or a turn in the conveyor system. It will beobserved that the turn is an inside turn so that the roller 86 positionsthe cable for return. By way of contrast, that portion of the cablewhich is connected to the container 14 need not be so constrainedbecause the container 14 in itself is constrained by the rails. It willbe observed that the rails 22 bend gently at the inside turn. Since thecontainer has rollers at both ends of the con tainer, the container isguided smoothly through the bend by the side rails 22.

Viewing FIG. 1 further, a second bend is likewise incorporated in theillustrated system. The second bend can be like the first. In otherwords, the bottom plate 24 which is formed in straight line segments islocated beneath the tubular guides which are gently bent about asuitable radius of curvature. A roller is preferably incorporated at thebend to guide the cable on its return. The other portion of the cable isagain tied to the container l4 and its position is determined by passageof the container.

FIG. I also shows an outside turn. Again the plate 24 is formed into twoor three straight line segments, and the tubular guide 22 is curved tothe selected radius of curvature. Again, rollers are supported atsuitable locations along the bottom plate 24 to engage the return cable.

Attention is momentarily directed to FIG. 3 of the drawings where thecable 72 is constrained in its range of departure from the path of thecontainer I4 by means of a transversally extending bar 88. The bar 88will be observed at two locations near the inside turn to thereby keepthe cable under tension without regard to the specific location of thecontainer. The container can be at any point along the conveyor system12. Moreover, when it passes under the roller 88, its position is stillconstrained by the tubular guide 22. Thus, the rollers 88 particularlyassist in holding the position of the cable 72 as the container 14traverses the entire system.

The system is likewise adapted to bend right or left. This can bereadily accomplished by simply shaping the bottom plate 24 toaccommodate the desired turn and then smoothly bending the tubularguides 22 to the curvature desired. Of course, the inside rail will beshorter in length than the outside rail on a left or right turn. In aturn. it is preferable to use vertical guide posts such as the guidepost 82 shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. The guide posts can be locatedat many points. The two portions of the cable are prevented frombecoming entangled.

The foregoing is directed to the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Several points however should be observed concerning thesystem. By way of example, the scale of the system is particularlysubject to variation as will be stated. The preferable scale for a bankor financial institution utilizes a container which is perhaps fiveinches or so in width. Preferably, the length is at least ten inches toaccommodate a legal size envelope. However, if transferring documentswithout folding is found desirable, legal sized documents woulddetermine the dimensions of the container. The container need not be toothick. A recommended thickness for the interior of the container isapproximately I to We inches. This then means that the system normallyis about 2 inches to 2 /4 inches in depth. As a result of this reduceddepth, the system is more easily installed. For instance, it is mucheasier to traverse the driveway apron of a financial institution,especially if several drive-in windows are incorporated. For instance,six or eight of these can be buried side by side with a minimum ofexcavation, or even on the surface beneath a load bearing plate levelwith the paved driveway.

Controls for the apparatus are particularly easily installed. Normally,the apparatus is intended for use between a customer and a teller.Accordingly, the motor 74 is actuated by a start switch at one end and asimilar start switch 92 at the opposite end. In addition, bumper orswitches can be installed at each end of the system to detect arrival ofthe container for switching off the power. This would then stop thecontainer at the desired location. In addition, the apparatus ispreferably used with closed circuit television, call buttons and thelike but all such additional apparatus is beyond the scope of thepresent disclosure.

Attention is next directed to FIG. 7 of the drawings where the numeralidentifies an alternative embodiment. The embodiment 100 incorporates anupstanding container 102. The container 102 is relatively narrow betweenthe rails 104. The rails 104 are mounted in similar manner to thearrangement shown in FIGS. 1 6. The container 104 is relatively narrowbut stands two or three times taller to present a side opening door 106shown in FIG. 8. The door 106 is closed by engaging a finger with anopening 108. The door 106 is a sliding door although a door hinged alongits upper edge can also be used. In the event that a hinged door isused, the hinge is located only along the upper edge and the door isfree to swing open from the lower edge. In this case, magnetic doorlatches might be desirable.

The container I02 is supported between the rails 104 by means ofagenerally horizontal shaft 110 which supports a set of rollers. Theshaft 110 terminates at a plate H2 and the plate 112 supports a shaft114 and a second shaft I16. Attention is directed to FIG. 10 of thedrawings which shows this apparatus in enlarged scale. The shaft 110connects with the plate 112. The shaft is preferably fixed in length.The plate 112 supports a lower shaft 114 and a similar upper shaft 116.The two shafts preferably inscribe an angle of about 90 and are locatedat about 45 from the horizontal. This enables the shafts I14 and 116 tosupport wheels 118 and 120. The wheels 118 and I20 are free to rotate onthe shafts on which they are mounted. They are not fixed at anyparticular location on the shafts 114 and 116. That is to say, thewheels are free to slide along the shafts. They are prevented fromescaping by means of a lock ring 122 which is positioned in a narrowgroove on the outer end of each shaft. The lock ring keeps the wheelsfrom escaping the shafts. The three wheel arrangement on a common truckis one means of limiting rotation of the wheels to maintain contact withthe rails.

The wheels are free to move along the shaft to ac commodate variationsin the relative position of the wheels on the shaft. This accommodatesvariations in size and location of the rail 104. As better shown in FIG.11 of the drawings, the plate 112 supports two wheels which arepreferably above the rail and one which is below. Preferably, the shaft110 is received in an internal sleeve or mounting means 124 joined tothe container 102. The sleeve is open at both ends and each end receivesa shaft 110. Each shaft is forced outwardly by a spring 126 tending tomaintain the wheels in contact with the rails. The shaft moves axiallyand is free to rotate to maintain contact with the rails. The shaft is apivotal mounting means for the wheels. On traversing a curve or a changein grade, one of the wheels may instantly move away from the surface onthe rail, not touching the rail for a short distance, thereby enablingthe apparatus to ride over such bumps and variations. The apparatus isfurther able to tolerate variations in placement of the rails. Thus,precise positioning of the rails is not required. The three wheelarrangement is thus believed to be advantageous in the featuresmentioned above.

The embodiment 100 differs in several important factors. At times,because of the architecture of the sur rounding buildings and otherstructure which is nearby, it is not possible to install the embodimentwhich is relatively thin and flat in the structure. The embodiment 100has a different set of dimensions. Rather, it is tall and relativelythin. It provides a side opening door as opposed to an opening top. Thisparticularly enables installation of the embodiment 100 in situationswhere the rails must curve to the right or left. It is easier to curvethe route of installation with the embodiment 100. To this end, thecontainer 102 can stand as tall as required, perhaps in the range of 10or 12 inches and the container can be about two inches thick. This thenleaves the rails about four inches apart. Of course. the dimensionsmentioned here are representative dimensions only but it will beunderstood that the embodiment 100 is taller and more narrow.

The embodiment 100 is preferably driven in the same manner as theembodiment 10 previously described. It can traverse between twostations. More importantly. its installation is more easily accomplishedbecause of the ability of the wheels to accommodate variations in railspacing.

The scope of the present invention is determined by the claims which areappended hereto.

I claim:

1. A conveyor system which comprises:

a pair of spaced apart parallel rails;

a container adapted to be carried along a locus deter mined by saidrails and between said rails;

means for mounting a shaft, said shaft relative to said container. saidmeans constraining said shaft to movement in a limited range;

first and second rollers commonly supported by said shaft, said rollersbeing spaced from one another and adapted to contact and support saidcontainer on said rails for movement therealong;

forked roller positioning means carried on said shaft for positioningsaid rollers at points relative to said rails to limit movement of saidrollers to a path parallel to said rails;

spring means for urging said shaft toward one of said rails;

means for limiting rotation of said forked roller positioning meansabout an axis determined by said shaft to a specified angular rotation;

motive means for applying a force to said container to cause saidcontainer to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers; and,

wherein said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in eitherdirection and further where said rollers have a limited range ofmovement along said axis to adjust their contact with said rail.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further including an endless loop of aflexible elongate member connected to said container from said motivemeans to enable said motive means to pull said container along saidrails.

3. A conveyor system which comprises:

a pair of spaced apart rails;

a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said railsand between said rails;

a common truck means;

means for mounting said common truck means relative to said containerwhile limiting its range of movement;

first and second rollers;

first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated insaid common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one ofsaid rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of theother roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movementof said common truck means to a path along said rails;

means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintainsaid rollers in contact with said rail; and

means limiting rotation of said common truck means,

said means including a third roller supported and positioned by a thirdroller supporting and positioning means on said common truck means withtwo of said rollers contacting said rail oppositely of said third rollerand wherein said two rollers are further arranged to bracket said thirdroller between said two rollers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including a second and similar common truckmeans with rollers on said con-. tainer for contacting said other rail.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a third and similar common truckmeans with rollers on said container for contacting said first rail.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said rails include only twogenerally round rails positioned on opposite sides of said container andone of said rollers contacts the upper half and the other rollercontacts the lower half thereof, and the points of contact describe apinching or clamping action.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said container has a common truckmeans with rollers engaged with said rails which rails comprise only twogenerally round rails.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including a motor connected by a flexiblecable means to said container means for moving said container means.

9. A conveyor system which comprises:

a pair of round spaced rails having upper and lower sides;

a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said railsand between said rails;

two common truck means on said container, one positioned for cooperationwith said first rail and one positioned for cooperation with said secondrail; each of said common trucks including first and second rollers;first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated insaid common truck means for positioning one of said rollers against theupper side of said rail and the other of said rollers against the lowerside of said rail and wherein said rollers are mounted for rotationabout an axis in either direction and further where said rollers have alimited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact withsaid rail; means for urging said common truck means toward said rail toobtain contact therewith to support said container; means for pivotallymounting said common truck means on said container for angular movementthrough a limited angular deflection; and,

motive means for applying a force to said container to cause saidcontainer to traverse said rails while guided by said rollers.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including a means for maintaining saidtruck in contact with said rail, which includes:

a mounting means generally parallel to the plane of said rails;

a shaft;

means carried on said container for receiving and guiding said mountingmeans while permitting said shaft to move therealong;

means for urging said shaft toward said rail;

said common truck means being supported by said shaft relative to saidrail; and.

said common truck achieving a continuous roller contact action on saidrail such that said rollers contact said rail and limit movement toguided roller movement along said rail and movement in the perpendiculardirection is constrained 11. A conveyor system which comprises:

a pair of spaced apart rails;

a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined by said railsand between said rails;

a common truck means;

means for mounting said common truck means relative to said containerwhile limiting its range of movement;

first and second rollers;

first and second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated insaid common truck means wherein said common truck means positions one ofsaid rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of theother roller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movementof said common truck means to a path along said rails;

means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintainsaid rollers in contact with said rail; and

said rollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either directionand further where said rollers have a limited range of movement alongsaid axis to adjust their contact with said rail.

1. A conveyor system which comprises: a pair of spaced apart parallelrails; a container adapted to be carried along a locus determined bysaid rails and between said rails; means for mounting a shaft, saidshaft relative to said container, said means constraining said shaft tomovement in a limited range; first and second rollers commonly supportedby said shaft, said rollers being spaced from one another and adapted tocontact and support said container on said rails for movementtherealong; forked roller positioning means carried on said shaft forpositioning said rollers at points relative to said rails to limitmovement of said rollers to a path parallel to said rails; spring meansfor urging said shaft toward one of said rails; means for limitingrotation of said forked roller positioning means about an axisdetermined by said shaft to a specified angular rotation; motive meansfor applying a force to said container to cause said container totraverse said rails while guided by said rollers; and, wherein saidrollers are mounted for rotation about an axis in either direction andfurther where said rollers have a limited range of movement along saidaxis to adjust their contact with said rail.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1further including an endless loop of a flexible elongate memberconnected to said container from said motive means to enable said motivemeans to pull said container along said rails.
 3. A conveyor systemwhich comprises: a pair of spaced apart rails; a container adapted to becarried along a locus determined by said rails and between said rails; acommon truck means; means for mounting said common truck means relativeto said container while limiting its range of movement; first and secondrollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning meansincorporated in said common truck means wherein said common truck meanspositions one of said rollers for contact with a rail oppositely of thecontact of the other roller against said rail such that said two rollerslimit movement of said common truck means to a path along said rails;means for urging said common truck means toward said rail to maintainsaid rollers in contact with said rail; and means limiting rotation ofsaid common truck means, said means including a third roller supportedand positioned by a third roller supporting and positioning means onsaid common truck means with two of said rollers contacting said railoppositely of said third roller and wherein said two rollers are furtherarranged to bracket said third roller between said two rollers.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 3 including a second and similar common truck meanswith rollers on said container for contacting said other rail.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 including a third and similar common truck meanswith rollers on said container for contacting said first rail.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 3 wherein said rails include only two generally roundrails positioned on opposite sides of said container and one of saidrollers contacts the upper half and the other roller contacts the lowerhalf thereof, and the points of contact describe a pinching or clampingaction.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said container has a commontruck means with rollers engaged with said rails which rails compriseonly two generally round rails.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 including amotor connected by a flexible cable means to said container means formoving said container means.
 9. A conveyor system which comprises: apair of round spaced rails having upper and lower sides; a containeradapted to be carried along a locus determined by said rails and betweensaid rails; two common truck means on said container, one positioned forcooperation with said first rail and one positioned for cooperation withsaid second rail; each of said common trucks including first and secondrollers; first and second roller supporting and positioning meansincorporated in said common truck means for positioning one of saidrollers against the upper side of said rail and the other of saidrollers against the lower side of said rail and wherein said rollers aremounted for rotation about an axis in either direction and further wheresaid rollers have a limited range of movement along said axis to adjusttheir contact with said rail; means for urging said common truck meanstoward said rail to obtain contact therewith to support said container;means for pivotally mounting said common truck means on said containerfor angular movement through a limited angular deflection; and, motivemeans for applying a force to said container to cause said container totraverse said rails while guided by said rollers.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9 including a means for maintaining said truck in contact withsaid rail, which includes: a mounting means generally parallel to theplane of said rails; a shaft; means carried on said container forreceiving and guiding said mounting means while permitting said shaft tomove therealong; means for urging said shaft toward said rail; saidcommon truck means being supported by said shaft relative to said rail;and, said common truck achieving a continuous roller contact action onsaid rail such that said rollers contact said rail and limit movement toguided roller movement along said rail and movement in the perpendiculardirection is constrained.
 11. A conveyor system which comprises: a pairof spaced apart rails; a container adapted to be carried along a locusdetermined by said rails and between said rails; a common truck means;means for mounting said common truck means relative to said containerwhile limiting its range of movement; first and second rollers; firstand second roller supporting and positioning means incorporated in saidcommon truck means wherein said common truck means positions one of saidrollers for contact with a rail oppositely of the contact of the otherroller against said rail such that said two rollers limit movement ofsaid common truck means to a path along said rails; means for urgingsaid common truck means toward said rail to maintain said rollers incontact with said rail; and said rollers are mounted for rotation aboutan axis in either direction and further where said rollers have alimited range of movement along said axis to adjust their contact withsaid rail.